Superoxide Research Articles

Opuntia ficus-indica cladodes extract inhibits human neutrophil pro-inflammatory functions and protects rats from acetic acid-induced ulcerative colitis.

The increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by human neutrophils can lead to oxidative imbalances and several diseases, such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Opuntia ficus-indica (O. ficus-indica) is rich in bioactive substances with anti-inflammatory properties. This study aimed to identify the bioactive compounds present in aqueous cladodes extract (ACE) of O. ficus-indica using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and to test its effects on human neutrophil inflammatory functions and on ulcerative colitis (UC) induced by acetic acid (Aa) in rats. ROS production and degranulation by neutrophils were assessed by luminol-amplified chemiluminescence, enzymatic techniques, and western blotting. In vivo, the experiment involved seven groups of rats: a negative control group (NaCl), the acetic acid group (Aa), and groups treated with oral sulfasalazine (150mg/kg) or various doses of ACE for 7days. Colonic lesions were induced by an intra-rectal Aa injection, and inflammation was assessed. HPLC analysis identified gallic acid, catechin, caffeic acid, and ferulic acid as major compounds in ACE. In vitro, ACE inhibited neutrophil ROS production, including superoxide anion produced by NADPH oxidase, and significantly reduced myeloperoxidase activity and neutrophil degranulation. In vivo, ACE protected rats from Aa-induced histopathological damage of the colonic mucosa, significantly increased catalase, superoxide dismutase and reduced glutathione levels, and significantly suppressed the increases of plasma cytokines (TNF-α and IL-1β) observed in the Aa group. In conclusion, O. ficus-indica ACE has significant anti-inflammatory properties by restoring oxidative balance, indicating that it could be a potential source of therapeutic agents for inflammatory diseases, particularly UC.

One-Step Construction of Hierarchical Porous and Defect-Rich Zn2+-Doped NH2-MIL-125(Ti) to Enhance Photocatalytic Degradation of Tetracycline Hydrochloride.

The development of efficient metal-organic framework (MOF) photocatalysts for the degradation of tetracycline hydrochloride (TC) is crucial for environmental and public health. Herein, NH2-MIL-125(Ti) flakes (namely, ZnxTi1-x-NML), featuring defect-rich and Zn2+-doping, were synthesized using a one-step solvothermal method. For the first time, the crystal structure of Zn-doped NML was determined by combining extended X-ray absorption with fine structure spectroscopy. The formation mechanisms of the flake morphology with hierarchical porous structures were thoroughly investigated. Compared to NH2-MIL-125(Ti), Zn0.15Ti0.85-NML achieved a 3.4-fold increase in removal of TC under simulated sunlight. The adjusted electronic structure enhances superoxide radical production, coupled with a flake-like and porous architecture that promotes reaction sites, improved mass transfer, and reduced charge distances. Combined with theoretical calculations of the density of states and electrostatic potential, the ligand-metal-metal charge transfer process was elucidated. The possible pathway for the photocatalytic degradation of TC by Zn0.15Ti0.85-NML was further speculated. Moreover, the safety of the photocatalytic pathway was assessed by predicting the toxicity of the degradation intermediates. Our findings link the structure of MOFs to their catalytic efficiency, guiding the creation of sustainable photocatalysts.

Tert-Butylhydroquinone alleviates a postharvest pericarp browning of longan fruit by regulating antioxidant metabolism.

Harvested longan fruit is prone to pericarp browning, which restricts preservation quality and shortens fruit shelf life. The antioxidant system can defend against oxidative stress-mediated quality deterioration such as fruit browning. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of tert-butylhydroquinone (TBHQ) on anti-browning ability of longan fruit in association with redox metabolism. The results indicated that the application of 0.02% TBHQ significantly suppressed the progression of pericarp browning. In comparison with control, TBHQ treatment decreased the contents of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), superoxide radical (O2 -⋅), and malondialdehyde, and retained high levels of ascorbic acid (AsA), glutathione (GSH), total phenolics as well as 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl scavenging rate. Enhanced enzymatic activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), glutathione reductase (GR), monodehydroascorbate reductase, and dehydroascorbate reductase (DHAR), but decreased activities of polyphenol oxidase and peroxidase were also observed in TBHQ-treated fruit. Gene expression analysis indicated that redox metabolism-related genes, including DlSOD, DlCAT, DlGR, and DlAPX, were upregulated after TBHQ treatment. Correlation analysis suggested that antioxidants, including AsA, GSH, CAT, APX, SOD, and DHAR, were negatively correlated to reactive oxygen species production and percarp browning. These results suggest that TBHQ is effective in alleviating pericarp browning by increasing antioxidant capacity of longan fruit.

Self-Illuminating Copper-Luminol Coordination Polymers for Bioluminescence Imaging of Oxidative Damage.

Timely detection of reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulated during inflammation is essential for an early disease diagnosis. Compared to fluorescence probes with limited sensitivity and accuracy, chemiluminescence (CL) imaging offers the potential for highly sensitive molecular visualization of ROS by minimizing background interferences. However, the development of bright and easily manufacturable CL probes for ROS imaging remains challenging. In this study, a novel chemiluminescent nanoprobe named Cu-Lum@NPs for ROS imaging in inflammation was synthesized by using a one-step solvothermal method. The Cu-Lum@NPs, which are composed of coordination polymers containing copper ions and luminol (Lum), demonstrate intrinsic peroxidase-like activity that relies on Cu(I) as the catalytic active center to initiate the Fenton reaction. This catalytic process facilitates the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) into hydroxyl radicals (•OH) and superoxide anion radicals (O2•-), leading to the oxidation of Lum and inducing strong luminescence. Cu-Lum@NPs, displaying nanozyme characteristics, were observed to accelerate and enhance the ROS-responsive luminescence (10-1600-fold in solution and over 100-fold in neutrophils) and notably extend persistent luminescence. The Cu-Lum@NPs allowed for CL imaging of endogenous ROS in living cells and animals with an outstanding signal-to-noise ratio exceeding 96 and facilitated oxidative damage luminescence imaging for tissue-specific detection. The study presents Cu-Lum@NPs, a highly sensitive and easily manufacturable chemiluminescent nanoprobe for ROS imaging both in vitro and in vivo, exhibiting enhanced luminescence and prolonged persistence for ROS-related disease detection.

Характеристика антиоксидантной активности СО2- экстрактов бурых водорослей и стабилизации липидов

Vegetable oils are susceptible to oxidation during storage, which is a serious problem for shelf-life and food safety. The article describes the antioxidant properties of supercritical extracts from brown algae (Undaria pinnatifida and Costaria costata), Russian Far East. It also explains their prospects as stabilizers that preserve the quality and safety of vegetable oils by affecting the kinetics of oxidation and hydrolysis. The study featured supercritical extracts of marine brown algae Undaria pinnatifida and Costaria costata from Russian Far East. The methods involved spectrophotometry and high-performance liquid chromatography. Supercritical extracts of marine brown algae proved to be reliable sources of bioactive substances, e.g., phenolic compounds, carotenoids, and mannitol. They also possessed antioxidant properties in terms of antiradical activity, hydroxyl ion binding, superoxide radical absorption, and Fe+2 chelating. The experiments revealed nine phenolic compounds responsible for antioxidant properties. The supercritical extract of Costaria costata demonstrated a greater antioxidant effect on lipid oxidation in vegetable oils than Undaria pinnatifida. Both algae proved effective in stabilizing hydrolysis and were able to increase the shelf-life of soy and sunflower oils by three months. Supercritical extracts of Undaria pinnatifida and Costaria costata served as antioxidants to stabilize lipid oxidation in refined and unrefined soy and sunflower oils. The research revealed high approximation coefficients for regression equations describing the patterns of changes in the peroxide and acid numbers of vegetable oils stabilized with supercritical extracts of these marine brown algae.

Porous Bimetallic Ti-MOFs for Photocatalytic Oxidation of Amines in Air.

A family of microporous titanium-containing metal-organic frameworks (denoted as M2Ti-CPCDC, M = Mn, Co, Ni) has been synthesized by using a bimetallic [M2Ti(μ3-O)(COO)6] cluster and a tritopic carbazole-based organic ligand H3CPCDC. M2Ti-CPCDC are stable and display permanent porosity for N2 and CO2 uptake, ranking among the most porous titanium-based metal-organic frameworks. M2Ti-CPCDC crystals exhibit n-type semiconductor behavior. Further catalytic studies demonstrate that all M2Ti-CPCDC materials are applicable for triggering photo-oxidative reactions of amines in air. More specifically, amines with electron-donating groups afford the aldehydes as the main products, while amines bearing electron-withdrawing groups give rise to imines as the main product. Among them, Mn2Ti-CPCDC exhibit the best photocatalytic activity, with conversion of benzylamine up to 99% and selectivity of 99%. Mn2Ti-CPCDC could be recycled in at least three runs while retaining crystallinity and catalytic activity. The reaction mechanism indicates that photoinduced hole (h+), superoxide radical anion (O2·-), and singlet oxygen (1O2) are the main active species involved in the photo-oxidation process.

Tile: Construction of a specific nanoprobe for scavenging ROS in hypobaric hypoxia induced brain injury of mice

The prevention and treatment of hypobaric hypoxia brain injury (HHBI) remains an unprecedented challenge due to the complex oxidative stress response at the damage site. In this study, RuCO phthalocyanine compound (RuPc) and bovine serum albumin (BSA) were self-assembled to obtain RuPc-BSA nanoparticles for HHBI therapy. As a nanoprobe carrying and storing carbon monoxide (CO), RuPc-BSA delivers CO to pathologically damaged areas of the brain. CO specifically attaches itself to the heme functional groups on mitochondria and restricts the source of reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. RuPc-BSA nanoparticles have been demonstrated in vitro to exhibit amazing stability as well as remarkable scavenging activity on hydroxyl radical, superoxide anion, and hydrogen peroxide. In vivo experiments showed that ROS levels in the brain of HHBI rats pretreated with RuPc-BSA decreased significantly, and neuronal function and oxidative stress levels were alleviated. Western blot and qRT-RCR results indicated that RuPc-BSA restricted the protein levels of Keap1, whereas enhanced the gene and protein levels of Nrf2. This study demonstrated that RuPc-BSA can ameliorate HHBI of mice by scavenging ROS partly via activating Keap1/Nrf2 signaling pathway.

Ultrasound-assisted solvent extraction of phenolics, flavonoids, and major triterpenoids from Centella asiatica leaves: A comparative study

Centella asiatica has been known for its significant medicinal properties due to abundance of bioactive constituents like triterpenoids and flavonoids. Nevertheless, an appropriate solvent system and extraction technique is still lacking to ensure optimized extraction of bioactive constituents present in C. asiatica. Recently, scientists are more focused towards application of green sustainable extraction techniques for the valuable components from plant matrix owing to their eco-friendly and safe nature. Among these, ultrasonication (US) is known as a valuable strategy for separation of bioactive components from medicinal plants. Hence, current research was performed to observe the effect of ultrasonication in the presence of five different solvents (Water, Hexane, Methanol, Chloroform, and Ethyl acetate) on total phenolic contents (TPC), total flavonoid contents (TFC), antioxidant properties (DPPH, ABTS, Nitric oxide radical activity, and Superoxide anion assay), and four major triterpenoid contents in C. asiatica leaves. Herein, ultrasound assisted methanolic extract (UAME) possessed maximum amount of TPC (129.54 mg GAE/g), TFC (308.31 mg QE/g), and antioxidant properties (DPPH: 82.21 % & FRAP: 45.98 µmol TE/g) followed by ultrasound-assisted Water extract (UAWE), ultrasound-assisted ethyl acetate extract (UAEAE), ultrasound-assisted n-hexane extract (UAHE), and ultrasound-assisted chloroform extract (UACE), respectively. Moreover, the superoxide radical and nitric oxide assays depicted a similar trend, revealing the highest percent inhibition for UAME (SO: 83.47 % & NO: 66.76 %) however, the lowest inhibition was displayed by UACE (63.22 % & 50.21 %), respectively. Highest content of major terpenoids were found in UAME of C. asiatica leaves as madecassoside (8.21 mg/g) followed by asiaticoside (7.82 mg/g), madecassic acid (4.44 mg/g), and asiatic acid (3.38 mg/g). Ultrasound-assisted extraction technique can be an efficient extraction method for bioactive compounds present in C. asiatica. However, ultrasonication along with methanol as an extraction solvent can surely enhance the extraction of valuable constituents. The results of this study provide an insight into major terpenoids, and antioxidants present in extracts of C. asiatica, implicating its use in ancient medicine systems and future drug development.

Enhanced Removal of Malachite Green from Wastewater Using Nonthermal Plasma Gliding Arc Discharge Combined with Ferrate Oxidation

The rapid and complete removal of Malachite Green (MG) dye was effectively achieved by combining potassium ferrate (Fe(VI)) treatment with nonthermal plasma discharge in both deionized water (DIW) and tap water (TW). This study evaluated the decolorization and mineralization efficiencies under varying MG concentrations, Fe(VI) dosages, and pH levels, as well as the impact of radical scavengers on the process. Fe(VI) alone resulted in moderate decolorization (35.01%) and low mineralization (21.46%) at an MG concentration of 50mg/L in DIW. Plasma discharge alone achieved mineralization rates of 20.6% in TW and 24.16% in DIW. While complete decolorization was observed for all initial MG concentrations, it required significantly longer treatment times (>30min). However, the combination of Fe(VI) with plasma (Fe(VI)-Plasma) demonstrated significant synergistic effects, achieving total decolorization and high mineralization rates -up to 92.5% in DIW and 88.7% in TW for 20mg/L MG- at much shorter treatment times. Radical scavenger tests revealed that hydroxyl radicals (OH) were the primary oxidants in MG degradation, followed by superoxide radicals and electrons. These findings suggest that the combined Fe(VI)-Plasma technology is a promising and efficient solution for dye removal, reducing both chemical usage and treatment time.

Revealing the vital role of sulfur site on the surface of pyrite in 1O2 formation for promoting ciprofloxacin degradation via peracetic acid activation

Pyrite has been widely utilized to activate oxidants for water treatment, yet the regulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by sulfur sites on its surface has been overlooked. In this study, the surface sulfur sites were regulated by thermal modification of natural pyrite in the N2 atmosphere (denoted as P-X, where X represented pyrolysis temperatures ranging from 400 to 700 °C), and these modified pyrites were employed to activate peracetic acid (PAA) for ciprofloxacin (CIP) degradation. The results revealed that the degradation rate of CIP increased as the reduced sulfur content increased, with the P600/PAA system achieving the highest apparent degradation rate (kobs=0.0999 min-1). Quenching experiments and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) analysis identified various ROS involved in the P-X/PAA system, with hydroxyl radical (·OH) and singlet oxygen (1O2) identified as dominant reactive species responsible for CIP degradation. The reduced sulfur sites served as the primary active sites facilitating the conversion of organic radicals (·CH3C(O)OO) into superoxide radicals (·O2-) and 1O2. Furthermore, the P600/PAA system demonstrated robust adaptability under both acidic and neutral pH conditions, efficiently degrading CIP even in the presence of complex matrices such as Cl−, NO3−, SO42−, NH4+, or humic acid (HA) in water bodies, although HCO3− was found to inhibit CIP degradation. This study significantly enhances our understanding of the interaction between reduced sulfur sites and ROS in PAA-based advanced oxidation processes (AOPs), offering a promising technology for efficient antibiotic treatment in water purification.

A novel barium zirconate titanate/Fe-MOF nanocomposite: Synthesis, characterization, and photocatalytic mechanism

The synthesis of a metal-organic framework (MOF) matrix of MIL-100 (Fe) loaded with BaTi0.85Zr0.15O3 (BTZ) nanoparticles (NPs) was achieved by an easy one-pot solvothermal procedure and encasing of BTZ NPs. X-ray diffraction (XRD), photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL), UV-Vis reflectance spectroscopy (DRS), Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and N2 adsorption-desorption were deployed for the characterization of the synthesized samples. The degradation efficiency for tetracycline (TC), among the photocatalytic BTZ/MIL-100(Fe) nanocomposites with varied BTZ percentages (10, 20, 30, and 40 wt% BTZ), revealed that (30 wt%), offered the best outcome. At 0.8 g L-1 of the catalyst, pH 9, 30 ppm TC solution, and 180 min irradiation time, as the optimal conditions, the degradation efficiency of TC molecules reached >90. Based on the study of some scavenging agents, the importance of the reactive species in TC photodegradation followed the trend of photogenerated e-, hydroxyl radicals, superoxide radicals, and photogenerated h+. TC degradation occurred through reduction and oxidation pathways via a direct Z-scheme mechanism. This work aims to describe the use of MOF-based materials as a visible-light-driven photocatalyst towards TC.

Exploring the Physicochemical Characteristics of Marine Protein Hydrolysates and the Impact of In Vitro Gastrointestinal Digestion on Their Bioactivity

Fish protein hydrolysates (FPHs) were obtained from different fish sources using a combination of microbial enzymes. The industrially produced FPHs from blue whiting (Micromesistius poutassou) and sprat (Sprattus sprattus) were compared to freeze-dried FPHs generated in-house from hake (Merluccius merluccius) and mackerel (Scomber scombrus) in terms of their physicochemical composition and functionality. Significant differences (p < 0.05) were observed in the protein, moisture, and ash contents of the FPHs, with the majority having high levels of protein (73.24–89.31%). Fractions that were more extensively hydrolysed exhibited a high solubility index (74.05–98.99%) at different pHs. Blue whiting protein hydrolysate-B (BWPH-B) had the highest foaming capacity at pH 4 (146.98 ± 4.28%) and foam stability over 5 min (90–100%) at pH 4, 6, and 8. The emulsifying capacity ranged from 61.11–108.90 m2/g, while emulsion stability was 37.82–76.99% at 0.5% (w/v) concentration. In terms of peptide bioactivity, sprat protein hydrolysate (SPH) had the strongest overall reducing power. The highest Cu2+ chelating activity was exhibited by hake protein hydrolysate (HPH) and mackerel protein hydrolysate (MPH), with IC50 values of 0.66 and 0.78 mg protein/mL, respectively, while blue whiting protein hydrolysate-A (BWPH-A) had the highest activity against Fe2+ (IC50 = 1.89 mg protein/mL). SPH scavenged DPPH and ABTS radicals best with IC50 values of 0.73 and 2.76 mg protein/mL, respectively. All FPHs displayed noteworthy scavenging activity against hydroxyl radicals, with IC50 values ranging from 0.48–3.46 mg protein/mL. SPH and MPH showed the highest scavenging potential against superoxide radicals with IC50 values of 1.75 and 2.53 mg protein/mL and against hydrogen peroxide with 2.22 and 3.66 mg protein/mL, respectively. While inhibition of α-glucosidase was not observed, the IC50 values against α-amylase ranged from 8.81–18.42 mg protein/mL, with SPH displaying the highest activity. The stability of FPHs following simulated gastrointestinal digestion (SGID) showed an irregular trend. Overall, the findings suggest that marine-derived protein hydrolysates may serve as good sources of natural nutraceuticals with antioxidant and antidiabetic properties.

Enhanced adsorption-photodegradation of tetracycline using Ce-N-co-doped AC/TiO2 photocatalyst: isotherms, kinetics, mechanism, and thermodynamic insight.

Excessive use of tetracycline (TC) is alarming owing to its increased detection in water systems. In this study, a photocatalyst was developed to degrade TC using a Ce-N-co-doped AC/TiO2 photocatalyst, denoted as Ce/N-AC/TiO2, prepared using the sol-gel method assisted by microwave radiation, speeding up the synthesis process. Ce/N-AC/TiO2 achieved maximum TC degradation of 93.1% under UV light with optimum sorption system conditions of an initial concentration of 10 mg L-1, pH 7, and 30 ℃, under 120 min. Scavenger experiments revealed that holes and superoxide radicals were the active species influencing the photodegradation process.The TC degradation was appropriately fitted with Langmuir isotherms and a pseudo-second-order (PSO) kinetic model. The change in enthalpy (ΔH) (2.43kJmol-1), entropy (ΔS) (0.024kJmol-1), and Gibbs free energy (ΔG) (- 4.941 to - 5.802kJmol-1) suggested that the adsorption process was spontaneous, favourable, and endothermic. Electrostatic interaction, hydrogen bonding, pore-filling, cationic-π, n-π, and π-π interaction were among the interactions involved between TC and Ce/N-AC/TiO2. Furthermore, Ce/N-AC/TiO2 stability was confirmed through 80% removal efficiency even after the fifth reuse cycle. Notably, this work provides new insight into the production of efficient, reusable, and enhanced photocatalysts using a rapid and cost-effective microwave-assisted synthesis process for pollutant remediation.

Assessing the impact of arsenite and arsenate on Sarcodia suae: a tale of two toxicities.

Inorganic arsenic (iAs), which predominantly occurs as arsenite (As3+) and arsenate (As5+) in natural water, is primarily accumulated by seaweed in marine environments. However, the detailed mechanisms through which As3+ and As5+ affect the physiological processes of these organisms remain largely unknown. This study focused on evaluating the toxicological effects of As3+ and As5+ on the seaweed Sarcodia suae. Exposure to As3+ and As5+ resulted in IC50 values of 401.5 ± 9.4 μg L-1 and 975.8 ± 13 μg L-1, respectively. Morphological alterations and a reduction in phycoerythrin content were observed, particularly under As3+ exposure, with increased lipid peroxidation as evidenced by higher malondialdehyde levels. Exposure to As3+ also elevated the production of superoxide radicals, while decreasing hydrogen peroxide levels specifically in the presence of As3+. The induction of antioxidative enzyme activities, namely superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione reductase, and ascorbate peroxidase was observed, signaling an adaptive response to iAs-induced oxidative stress. Moreover, levels of the antioxidants ascorbate and glutathione were elevated post-exposure, especially in response to As3+. Additionally, bioaccumulation of arsenic was significantly higher in the As3+ compared to As5+. Collectively, the data suggest that As3+ imposes greater adverse effects and oxidative stress to S. suae, which responds by adjusting its antioxidative defense mechanisms to mitigate oxidative stress.

Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptors and C-C Chemokine Receptor-2 Positive Cells Play an Important Role in the Intraerythrocytic Death and Clearance of Babesia microti

Babesia microti is an Apicomplexan parasite that infects erythrocytes and causes the tick-transmitted infection, babesiosis. B. microti can cause a wide variety of clinical manifestations ranging from asymptomatic to severe infection and death. Some risk factors for severe disease are well-defined, an immune compromised state, age greater than 50, and asplenia. However, increasing cases of severe disease and hospitalization in otherwise healthy individuals suggests that there are unknown risk factors. The immunopathology of babesiosis is poorly described. CD4+ T cells and the spleen both play a critical role in parasite clearance, but few other factors have been found that significantly impact the course of disease. Here, we evaluated the role of several immune mediators in B. microti infection. Mice lacking TNF receptors 1 and 2, the receptors for TNFα and LTα, had a higher peak parasitemia, reduced parasite killing in infected red blood cells (iRBCs), and delayed parasite clearance compared to control mice. Mice lacking CCR2, a chemokine receptor involved in the recruitment of inflammatory monocytes, and mice lacking NADPH oxidase, which generates superoxide radicals, demonstrated reduced parasite killing but had little effect on the course of parasitemia. These results suggest that TNFR-mediated responses play an important role in limiting parasite growth, the death of parasites in iRBCs, and the clearance of iRBCs, and that the parasite killing in iRBCs is being primarily mediated by ROS and inflammatory monocytes/macrophages. By identifying factors involved in parasite killing and clearance, we can begin to identify additional risk factors for severe infection and newer therapeutic interventions.

Magnetic biochar-doped g-C3N4/Fe2O3 S-scheme heterojunction with enhanced photocatalytic degradation of tetracycline by addition of persulfate

Graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) exhibits remarkable thermal and chemical stability, enabling effective activation of molecular oxygen and generation of superoxide radicals for photocatalytic pollutant degradation. However, its low surface area and poor photocatalytic activity have limited its development, and the reaction mechanism of pollutant degradation remains unclear. In this study, we synthesized g-C3N4/BC/Fe2O3 catalysts by combining g-C3N4, biochar (BC), and Fe2O3 in intimate contact. The highest photocatalytic degradation efficiency of tetracycline (TC) reached 94.9% in the g-C3N4/BC/Fe2O3-2/PDS system, which was 3.01, 1.53, and 2.35 times higher than that of pure g-C3N4, BC, and BC/Fe2O3, respectively. The addition of persulfate (PDS) accelerated the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), providing more active species and improving photocatalytic performance, thereby enhancing TC degradation. LC-MS analysis and density functional theory (DFT) calculations were used to elucidate possible TC degradation pathways in the g-C3N4/BC/Fe2O3-2/PDS system. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) confirmed the generation of multiple ROS in the reaction system, including h+, •OH, SO4•−, •O2-, and 1O2. This work provides mechanistic insights into TC degradation and offers a theoretical foundation for future studies on advanced oxidation processes for water treatment.

Boosted visible-light-induced photo-Fenton degradation of organic pollutants over a novel direct Z-scheme NH2-MIL-125(Ti)@FeOCl heterojunction catalyst

Improving the charge separation, charge transfer, and effective utilization is crucial in a photocatalysis system. Herein, we prepared a novel direct Z-scheme NH2-MIL-125(Ti)@FeOCl (Ti-MOF@FeOCl) composite photocatalyst through a simple method. The prepared composite catalyst was utilized in the photo-Fenton degradation of Rhodamine B (RhB) and ciprofloxacin (CIP). The Ti-MOF@FeOCl (10FeTi-MOF) catalyst exhibited the highest catalytic performance and degraded 98.3 and 66% of RhB and CIP, respectively. However, the pure NH2-MIL-125(Ti) (Ti-MOF) and FeOCl catalysts achieved only 50 and 92% of RhB and 50 and 37% of CIP, respectively. The higher catalytic activities of the Ti-MOF@FeOCl composite catalyst could be due to the electronic structure improvements, photoinduced charge separations, and charge transfer abilities in the catalyst system. The composite catalysts have also enhanced adsorption and visible light-responsive properties, allowing for efficient degradation. Furthermore, the electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) signals, the reactive species trapping experiments, and Mott-Schottky (M-S) measurements revealed that the photogenerated superoxide radical (•O2–), hydroxyl radical (•OH), and holes (h+) played a vital role in the degradation process. The results also demonstrated that the Ti-MOF@FeOCl heterojunction composite catalysts could be a promising photo-Fenton catalyst system for the environmental remediation.

Persistent luminescent ZnAl-LDH nanosheets for all-weather degradation of nitenpyram and tetracycline: Superoxide radical induction, life cycle analysis and engineering applications

Photocatalysts designed for all-weather applications, capable of efficient charge carrier separation, are set to transform the adoption of photocatalysis-driven advanced oxidation processes in wastewater management. In this investigation, an energy-storing ZnAl-LDH@SrAl2O4:Eu2+, Dy3+ (SALDH) was synthesized successfully, optimized for the photocatalytic selective degradation of NTP and tetracycline hydrochloride (TC) under varying weather conditions, with 100 % degradation of both NTP and TC within 75 min. Remarkably, SALDH demonstrates energy storage capabilities that markedly reduce energy demands relative to traditional photocatalytic approaches. The primary reactive species identified were O2−, and the Fukui index, computed via density-functional theory (DFT), identified the specific interaction sites of O2− on NTP molecules. Utilizing the energy retention properties of SALDH, a novel, environmentally friendly device was engineered for processing organic pollutants in agricultural wastewater. This system harness the energy from solar radiation to induce the oxidation of pollutants. The experiments that were performed in the both artificially prepared lab-scale and actual agricultural WWT plants indicated the degradation efficiencies of 36 % and 37 %, respectively. As seen during the day, both SALDH and persulfate were capable of effectively decomposing organic contaminants; at night, the SA’s luminescence maintained the oxidative ability of ZnAl-LDH. Meanwhile, SALDH combines the corrosion resistance of ZnAl-LDH with good metal compatibility, enabling SALDH to effectively improve the photostability of long afterglow. This work contributes to the existing knowledge on the degradation of organic pollutants by efficient photocatalysts and points to possible implementations in water treatment processes.

Functional Properties and Sensory Quality of Kombucha Analogs Based on Herbal Infusions

Traditionally, kombucha is produced by the fermentation of black or green tea infusions with the use of SCOBY (Symbiotic Culture of Bacteria and Yeasts). However, SCOBY exhibits the ability to ferment other substrates as well, which can be used to create novel products with new sensory and health-promoting properties. This paper investigates the antioxidant activity, chemical composition, and sensory properties of mint, nettle, and blackcurrant leaf-based kombucha analogs. It has been demonstrated that the fermentation process with SCOBY significantly influenced (p ≤ 0.05) sugar, organic acids, and mineral contents, with the increase in iron, magnesium, and calcium amounts in all tested herbal kombucha. The study shows that the type of herb infusion has a significant influence on the parameters associated with antioxidant potential. The fermentation with SCOBY resulted in an increase in antioxidant activity as measured by the superoxide anion radical (O2•−) inhibition of all three tested herbal infusions, with the greatest changes observed in nettle kombucha. Herbal kombucha was characterized by significantly increased total phenolic content as determined by Folin’s reagent and a changed phenolic compound profile by LC-MS/MS (liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry) in comparison to nonfermented infusions. Very high sensory scores were achieved for fermented mint and blackcurrant-based kombucha.

Fiber Optic-Mediated Type I Photodynamic Therapy of Brain Glioblastoma Based on an Aggregation-Induced Emission Photosensitizer.

Glioblastoma (GBM) is one of the most lethal human malignancies. The current standard-of-care is highly invasive with strong toxic side effects, leading to poor prognosis and high mortality. As a safe and effective clinical approach, photodynamic therapy (PDT) has emerged as a suitable option for GBM. Nevertheless, its implementation is significantly impeded by the limits of light penetration depth and the firm reliance on oxygen. To overcome these challenges, herein, a promising strategy that harnesses a modified optical fiber and less oxygen-dependent Type I aggregation-induced emission (AIE) photosensitizer (PS) is developed for the first time to realize in vivo GBM treatments. The proposed AIE PS, namely TTTMN, characterized by a highly twisted molecular architecture and a bulky spacer, exhibits enhanced near-infrared emission and strong production of hydroxyl and superoxide radicals at the aggregated state, thus affording efficient fluorescence imaging-guided PDT once formulated into nanoparticles. The inhibition of orthotopic and subcutaneous GBM xenografts provides compelling evidence of the treatment efficacy of Type I PDT irradiated through a tumor-inserted optical fiber. These findings highlight the substantially improved therapeutic outcomes achieved through fiber optic-mediated Type I PDT, positioning it as a promising therapeutic modality for GBM.